Map of England showing where the Hornsby arms are recorded
The Hornsby arms were recorded in Grantham, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Hornsby arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Hornsby Family in England
The surname Hornsby is a locational name that originated in Northern England, specifically derived from small villages or settlements known as Hornby. The name itself combines an Old Norse personal name with the suffix "by," which meant a farmstead or a village in the language of the Viking settlers. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Hornsby family were living in York by 1620, where they likely worked as tradespeople or merchants within the city walls. During this period, York was a major center for commerce and administration, and the family would have been part of the growing urban population that helped shape the city’s economic life. Over time, the spelling evolved into its current form as families moved throughout the region and eventually across the world.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Horn
A projecting point of land or a curved animal horn.
This name
HornsbyRefers to a person living by a horn-shaped piece of land or a village.
also spelled
Hornsbie
Hornsbay
Hornsbey
Related arms
Hallrecorded with Hornsby, same area
Moorerecorded with Hornsby, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and service
